TWENTY-FIVE years ago last week, Middlesbrough survived their darkest hour with Steve Gibson a fresh-faced new owner and Tony Mowbray captain.

Today, Mowbray is manager and Gibson still has the cherubic looks.

But while the former admits the latter has in recent years endured his “most difficult” spell at the helm since the club almost went out of business, Mowbray insists Gibson remains fully behind Boro.

And just as they came through the hardship of 1986, so the Teessiders’ former captain, now boss, is convinced they can do so again.

“Steve’s great, he’s the guy I knew 25 years ago. He’s still the same guy,” Mowbray said.

“He’s been through a fantastic spell and he’s probably having his two or three most difficult years since the mid-80s.

“I was a player at the time and he was the new owner and hopefully as the manager and the owner, like we came through then we can come through a difficult period again. He’s still very, very focused about his club.

“Nobody enjoys this moment, this club being in the Championship and losing matches. They’ve lost a lot over the last few years. So we need to try and put that right, and he understands good players win games but good players cost lots of money.”

Mowbray added: “I’m very respectful of Steve, he’s spent a lot of money over the last 25 years. He’s been through a lot. He’s had fantastic success, brought untold enjoyment to the supporters over a long, long time.

“I’m here at a time when not just this club but the whole of football is changing. It’s a lot easier when you’re in the Premier League. They had 11 years there but they’re not there now, so now we’re readjusting to life back in the Championship.

“So I fully understand it, I’m not here to shout from the rooftops about my frustration. I’m here to do the job, and hopefully be given the time to do that job. I think the chairman fully understands the difficulties of it.

“The danger in football, of course, is that the supporters don’t because they want to see the team win every week, and if we don’t win as often as they like, the perception is that you’re not doing a good job, that you’re not as good a manager as you might think.

“That’s why managers lose their jobs. But I’m trying to manage through choppy waters at the moment and hoping to come out at the other end.”